PITTSBURGH  Pittsburgh hasn't had a winning season, gone to a bowl game or made much of an impact in the Big East Conference since coach Dave Wannstedt was hired four years ago.

All that can change on Saturday.

For the No. 25 Panthers (6-2, 2-1 in Big East) to start fulfilling the unmet expectations they've had since appearing in five consecutive bowl games from 2000-04, they need to accomplish something else - end a seven-game losing streak to Louisville.

They can do that on Saturday, too.

During a season in which the Panthers keep winning when they're supposed to lose and losing when they're supposed to win, they badly need to win one in which they're favored. Beating Louisville (5-3, 1-2) would maintain their conference title chances and all but secure their first bowl invitation since 2004.

The problem is Pitt hasn't beaten the Cardinals since 1983 and has dropped its last four home games against them. That string of failures can't continue if Pitt is to stay nationally ranked after twice dropping out of the Top 25 following upset losses.

Curiously, Pitt is 4-0 on the road but only 2-2 at home.

"It's important for our kids and this program, so there's no (additional) pressure on them," Wannstedt said of getting a seventh victory, which guarantees a winning season. "Look, we've got a game this week and an opportunity and that's how we'll approach it."

The Panthers also have some momentum after winning 36-33 in four overtimes at Notre Dame a week after being upset at home by Rutgers, 54-34.

Pitt was unprepared for Rutgers' passing game - Wannstedt expected them to run the ball - as the Scarlet Knights threw for five touchdowns in the first half. The Panthers don't expect a similar surprise from Louisville.

"They do some things on offense and defense that are similar to what Notre Dame did," Wannstedt said. "We needed a bit of a carry-over as opposed to preparing for the triple option at Navy or the pro attack of Rutgers."

Louisville, like Pitt, can't seem to build off its successes. The Cardinals beat Kansas State 38-29, but then lost at home to Connecticut 26-21. They rebounded to defeat then-No. 14 South Florida 24-20 on Oct. 25, only to lose at Syracuse 28-21 last Saturday - the Orange's first win over a major college team this season.

"We were in control of that (UConn) game and ended up losing that, but we felt we were right back in the Big East race (after South Florida) and we lost to Syracuse," Louisville quarterback Hunter Cantwell said. "We've got to put that behind us and play up to our capability."

For both teams, slowing a top running back is a must.

Cardinals freshman Victor Anderson already has five 100-yard games, as does Pitt's LeSean McCoy. Anderson is averaging 105 yards per game. The only major college freshman averaging more is Jacquizz Rodgers (118.1) of Oregon State.

"He's quick. He makes a lot of guys miss," Wannstedt said. "He's got exceptional speed and he's a lot stronger than what you might first anticipate."

Louisville knows it can't allow McCoy to get outside, something he's done regularly while gaining at least 142 yards in each of his last five games. He has 10 touchdowns in his last four and is tied for the national lead with 15.

"People have not run the football at us much, and the two teams that have had some success," Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe said. "This team is going to try to do the same thing. We've got to play better in terms of knocking down the run and tackling better."

At least the Cardinals will go against McCoy on a healthy grass field at Heinz Field; there hasn't been a game there in nearly two weeks. The last time the Cardinals visited in 2006, the field was a mess after four high school games were played there the day before.

"Hopefully it will be a nice grass field to play on so we can put some points on the board," Cantwell said.

Pitt welcomes back quarterback Bill Stull, who sat out the Notre Dame game with a concussion from the game against Rutgers.

"In the long run, it was good that I didn't play last week so I didn't risk another injury," Stull said. "But I'm ready to go."

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